One final pre-draft Q&A session as Astros prepare for big day

It’s just hours away from perhaps the biggest draft in Jeff Luhnow’s career as a general manager. Okay, it’s his first, but it certainly is the most watched, most hyped, most celebrated draft — if not pick — in the last 20 years for the Astros. Luhnow, Bobby Heck and all the Astros involved in the process have been queried about every possibility known to man.

So now, for the last and perhaps the most important interview on Monday’s major league draft. It’s simple: I ask the questions, you provide the answers. I’ve submitted my answers, so let’s hear what you have to say. Please show your work! In other words, if justification is necessary, let’s hear it.

Let’s get the biggie out of the way. Who do you pick with the first pick?

If the Astros can get straight with Scott Boras, go with Mark Appel. He’s pitched at a high level for three years at Stanford, so some of the basic questions of how he’ll respond under pressure and in the limelight have already been answered to a certain degree. If he proves unsignable, I’d go with Kevin Gausman of LSU or might roll the dice with Byron Buxton, although you’ll probably notice a contradiction in the answer to the next question. Remember, though, Luhnow told us Friday night there was no consensus among the Astros’ draft team. You would have to think though, that Appel might get the most votes on that committee.

Overall, do you have a preference of college player or high schooler? Or does it matter?

Generally a college player. In some cases like Appel or Gausman, these players have played at what many would consider the AA level. At LSU, there’s an average of 10,000 fans at each SEC game at Alex Box stadium. The competition is high, the stakes are high. Equivalent to MLB? Of course not, but a collegian at one of the four or five major conference schools isn’t likely to flame out due to pressure, at least not early on.

If you had your choice of the first overall pick and the 15th and 30th picks in the first round, which would it be?

Seems like a silly question, but if a Stephen Strasburg or Bryce Harper was available, would it affect your thought process? Generally, I think I’d go with the 15th and 30 picks.

Presently, MLB does not allow trading of picks. If that rule were different, would you trade this year’s first overall pick?

Would depend on the season and the draft. Who’s available at #1. If I could trade down to 10th and pick up another sandwich pick, probably so. Would I trade the pick for prospects? Unless it was a can’t miss, Top 20 BA type, no thanks.

This year’s draft is 40 rounds, a much shorter process than even a few years ago. Is that too long? Would you prefer fewer rounds? More rounds?

Leave it at 40. Probably too long, but it gives kids a chance to say they were drafted and provides the minor leagues with a systematic means of staffing its teams. Seriously though, how many players can you name who were drafted after the 25th round?

Hindsight is a man’s best friend, right? Wait, that’s a dog. Speaking of dogs (seriously, didn’t plan that segue), the Astros have drafted a few over the years. Easy to say now, with that hindsight thing going on, but that’s what blogs are for, right? So when it comes to Astros’ first round picks in recent years, which one would you most like to have a do-over for? I’ve provided cheat sheet links so you can see how these have fared against others drafted in that same year.